TN : Rua Pinot Noir 2010, Akarua Winery, Central Otago, New Zealand

The brix of the grapes at harvest was between 22 and 24. The wine underwent no whole bunch fermentation. There was a five day pre-fermentation maceration. Fermentation peaked at a temperature of 31 degrees. Punch downs were done twice daily. There was a post-fermentation maceration of six days. The wine was matured in 100% French oak barriques for seven months.

The winemaker was Matt Connell. This wine was bottle in November 2012 and sealed with a screwcap. There is less than one gramme per litre of residual sugar in this wine.

This wine was imported by Domaine Wines Sweden AB.

Colour : Raspberry

Aroma : Strawberry, raspberry, mint, spice

Taste : Very fruity, strawberry, raspberry, spice, herbs, vanilla, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 159 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 6265

Mark : B-

Website : Akarua Winery

TN : Girard Old Vine Zinfandel 2011, Girard Winery, Napa Valley, California, USA

The primary vineyard for this Zinfandel came from the highest elevation vineyard in Napa near the top of Mt. Vaca located at 2750 feet. The average age of the vines was more than 35 years old.

This wine was imported by Terrific Wines AB.

Colour : Dark raspberry

Aroma : Milk chocolate, spice, blueberry, oak, herbs, raspberry, mint

Taste : Spice, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, mint, herbs, white pepper

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 165 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 22337

Mark : C+

Website : Girard Winery

TN : Tenuta Belguardo 2011, IGT, Marchesi Mazzei, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Skin maceration and fermentation took place at a temperature between 28 and 30 degrees and lasted 16 days. The wine was matured for one and a half years in French oak.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Herbs, blackberry, blackcurrant, coffee

Taste : Oak, herbs, blackurrant, blackberry, coffee, plums, tobacco

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 199 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95307

Website : Marchesi Mazzei

TN : Mayu Reserva Syrah 2011, Vina Mayu, Valle del Elqui, Chile

The grapes for this wine come from two vineyards, Quebrada de Talca (350 metres above sea level, grapes harvested at the beginning of May 2011) and Ladera in Vicuna (650 metres above sea level, grapes harvested in the middle of April 2011). The winemaker was Giorgio Flessati. 45% of the wine was matured in new French oak. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Mayu is the ancient Inca name for the Milky Way constellation.

This wine was imported by WineWorld AB.

Colour : Red, blue hues

Aroma : Blueberry, raspberry, plums, spice, white pepper, oak

Taste : Spice, white pepper, raspberry, milk chocolate, blueberry, strawberry

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 91 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2551

Website : Vina Mayu

TN : Simonsig Chardonnay 2013, Simonsig Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa

This wine is 100% Chardonnay. The residual sugar is 2.8 grammes per litre, pH is 3.4, and the total acidity is 5.7 grammes per litre. The wine was matured in French oak. This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Tryffelsvinet AB.

Colour : Pale watery lemon

Aroma : Butter, oranges, pineapple, popcorn, herbs, lemon

Taste : Pineapple, butter, oranges, apples, herbs

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 91 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2032

Mark : C

Website : Simonsig Estate

TN : Chateau Yon-Figeac 2009, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

The 24 hectare vineyard is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

This wine was imported by Magnum Wine AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrant, plums, cedar, herbs, cocoa powder

Taste : Blackcurrant, plums, herbs, oak

Alcohol : 14%

Mark : B

TN : Grüner Veltliner Zistl 2012, Weingut Alphart, Thermenregion, Austria

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Haller Vin.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Pineapple, mango, white pepper

Taste : Mango, pineapple, peach, white pepper and minerals on finish

Alcohol : 12.5%

Price : 336 SEK (Set of two mixed bottles from Weingut Alphart)

Systembolaget Number : 79768

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Alphart

TN : Rotgipfler Vom Berg 2012, Weingut Alphart, Thermenregion, Austria

This wine was imported by Haller Vin.

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Pear, oranges, mango, pineapple, herbs

Taste : Pear, oranges, pineapple, mango, herbs, minerals

Alcohol : 13.5%

Price : 336 SEK (two bottle mixed set of Weingut Alphart wines)

Systembolaget Number : 79768

Mark : B-

Website : Weingut Alphart

TN : Optima 2009, Anthonij Rupert, Western Cape, South Africa

This wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine spent two years in French oak 225 litre barrels of which 60% were new.

This wine was imported by Sigva Partner AB.

Colour : Dark red, blue hues

Aroma : Blackcurrants, herbs, plums, milk chocolate, tobacco

Taste : Tobacco, blackcurrant, herbs, plums, milk chocolate, cedar (decant for an hour to open up)

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 270 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 97137

Website : Anthonij Rupert Wines

TN : Texas Longhorn Charcoal Shiraz 2012, Fine Cape WIne, Coastal Region. South Africa

This wine was sealed with a screwcap.

This wine was imported by Stockholm Wine Lab.

  
Colour : Dark red

Aroma : Blackberry, plums, burnt toast, smoke, coffee, milk chocolate

Taste : Burnt toast, smoky, blueberry, raspberry, oak, white pepper

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 91 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 2074

Mark : C

Website : Fine Cape Wine

TN : Rodney Strong Chark Hill Chardonnay 2011, Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards, Sonoma County, Calfornia, USA

The grapes for this wine were grown in volcanic-ashen soils of Chark Hill  just north of Santa Rosa. Rick Sayre was the winemaker.

This wine was imported by Domaine Wines AB.

Colour : Pale yellow

Aroma : Oak, pineapple, spice, butter, oranges

Taste : Buttered toast, oranges, pineapple, mango, spice

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 131 SEK

Mark : B-

Website : Rodney Strong Vineyards

TN : Ocio Pinot Noir 2011, Cono Sur, Casablanca Valley, Chile

The grapes for this wine come from the El Triangulo Estate (85%) and Campo Lindo (15%). The vineyard spoils are sandy with a bit of clay. The climate was gentle with cool nights and foggy mornings. The grapes were hand picked between March 18th and April 10th 2011. The wine was aged for 14 months in barrels and 1 month in stainless steel tanks. The wine has 2 grammes per litre of residual sugar, pH of 3.54, and 6.63 grammes per litre total acidity.

This wine was imported by Spendrups Bryggeri AB.

Colour : Raspberry/red

Aroma : Oak, cherries, herbs, spice, strawberry

Taste : Spice, cherries, strawberry, liqourice

Alcohol : 14%

Price : 377 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95101

Mark : C+

Website : Cono Sur

TN : Masi Corbec 2010, Tupungato, Argentina

This wine is a blend of Corvina and Malbec.

This wine was imported by Philipson Soderberg AB.

Colour : Dark red/black, blue hues

Aroma : Blackberry, oak, herbs, bkueberry, milk chocolate

Taste : Herbs, oak, blueberry, blackberry, milk chocolate

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 212 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 76347

Mark : C+

Website : Masi

TN : Vilafonté Series C 2010, Paarl, South Africa

This wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 5% Malbec. The wine was matured for 22 months in 90% new French oak barrels and 12 months in bottle before release on 1st March 2013. Forty French oak barrels were produced.

This wine was imported by Amka Vinimport AB.

Colour : Dark red/blackberry

Aroma : Blackcurrant, herbs, milk chocolate, liqourice, oak, raspberry

Taste :  Tar, blackcurrant, graphite, long liqourice finish, thick mouth-coating texture (give another two years to see if the oak flavours meld)

Alcohol : 15%

Price : 375 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 91188

Mark : A-

Website : Vilafonté

TN : Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Steinsetz 2012, Kamtpal Reserve, Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Austria

The winemaker was Micheal Moosbrugger.

This wine was imported by Prime Wine Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale lemon, green hues

Aroma : Pear, mandarin oranges, peach, white pepper

Taste : Pear, peach, mandarin oranges, white pepper on finish

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 151 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 96011

Mark : B

Website : Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg

TN : Vilafonté Series M 2009, Paarl, South Africa

This wine is 46% Malbec, 32% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine matured for 16 months in French oak barrels and 12 months in barrel before release in 2012. 31 barrels were produced.

This wine was imported by Amka Vinimport AB.

Colour : Dark red/blue

Aroma : Oak, plums, blackcurrant, blackberry, spice

Taste : Oak, plums, blackcurrant, violets, spice, blackberry

Alcohol : 14.5%

Price : 287 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 79476

Mark : B

Website :  Vilafonté

TN : Codice V 2012 Vermentino di Toscana, Marchesi Mazzei, Tuscany, Italy

This wine is 100% Vermentino. The total acidity is 6.10 grammes per litre. The vineyards for this wine are located at 90 metres above sea level and have a South South-Western exposure. The vineyard soils are mostly sandstone and limestone. All of the grapes were handpicked from September 6th 2012 onwards. 6,000 bottles were produced; bottled in February 2013.

This wine was imported by The WineAgency Sweden AB.

Colour : Pale lemon

Aroma : Pear, oak, herbs, peach

Taste : Pear, peach, lemon, herbs, oak

Alcohol : 13%

Price : 141 SEK

Systembolaget Number : 95338

Mark : C

Website : Marchesi Mazzei